Expert Columns

Through the Better Buildings Initiative’s Integrated Lighting Campaign (ILC), the U.S. Department of Energy recognizes the use of advanced lighting by building owners and managers for increased building efficiency and comfort. Read on to learn about the organizations leading the adoption of advanced lighting controls and integrated lighting.

In this conversation excerpted from the Smart Energy Voices podcast, Kulsoom Khan, Energy Efficiency Manager at Congebec, shares her experience cultivating energy culture buy-in. Khan won a 2023 WISE (Women in Smart Energy) Award for her creation of Congebec's Energy Ambassador Program.

What if we could make affordable clothing from carbon emissions? In this column, Walmart's Andrea Albright explores a first-of-its-kind collaboration aimed at capturing carbon emissions from manufacturers and facilities in the Walmart supply chain and converting them into a garment prototype – with zero waste.

As a science-based Fortune 500 company, 3M focuses on producing innovative products while prioritizing sustainability as a core value throughout the company. In this column from Better Buildings, learn how 3M integrated the systematic ISO-based “plan-do-check-act” framework into on-site energy management practices, resulting in reduced energy use and costs, expanded employee engagement, and improved insight into energy performance at dozens of sites.

Who is ready to face, and take responsibility for, current and future problems when it comes to our built environment? In this column, Lotte Schlegel of IMT (Institute for Market Transformation) was inspired by the recent smoke conditions from Canadian wildfires to face a new global reality that has a big impact on our ability to provide safe, healthy, climate-appropriate buildings for all.

Allina Health conducted a climate resilience assessment to ensure their buildings are prepared for the impacts of climate change. In this column from Better Buildings, learn how Allina Health used a climate risk vulnerability tool to understand climate change-related building and community infrastructure vulnerabilities and evaluate what percentage of its building portfolio is at risk for weather-related and public health disasters.

Maloney Properties manages multifamily housing properties owned by third parties, many of which are subject to emissions reduction goals established by ordinances in the cities of Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts. In this column from Better Buildings, explore how the company created an Excel-based tracking tool to monitor changes in site Energy Use Intensity (EUI), ENERGY STAR Score, and compare calculated emissions scores per building to city targets to evaluate compliance.

In May, the White House announced that HUD and the USDA are proposing to require the latest energy codes as a condition of financing and assisting newly constructed homes. In this column, Cherylyn Kelley at IMT explains why this announcement is a big deal and why, after years of advocacy work by many individuals and organizations, this month’s codes news has her feeling like a Pawnee superstar.

To uncover new energy efficiency opportunities, OxyChem hosted a Better Plants In-Plant Training focused on the plant's steam systems. In this column from Better Buildings, discover how the training identified steam efficiency improvement opportunities across the chlor-alkali production process.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) offers incentives and opportunities for commercial and industrial businesses to accelerate their decarbonization and improve energy efficiency. In this blog, NRG breaks down the key benefits of the IRA, including tax credits, incentives for onsite solar/storage, and lower costs for renewable energy projects. Learn how your business can take advantage of these benefits.